SBC, SSC to appeal ban on cagers, coaches

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda and San Sebastian will appeal the decision of the NCAA Policy Board banning their two coaches for two seasons and suspending several of their players involved in a brawl during a women’s volleyball game at San Beda’s St. Placid Gym in Mendiola last December.

The Policy Board recently upheld the recommendation of the Management Committee suspending San Beda basketball coach Frankie Lim and San Sebastian volleyball mentor Roger Gorayeb for two seasons and sacking several San Beda players and another member of the coaching staff for figuring in the melee.

“We will definitely appeal it but as to the specific details of the appeal, the school is still finalizing everything,” said San Beda’s management committee representative Jose Mari Lacson yesterday.

“Fr. Aloysius will make the official statement when the right time comes,” added Lacson, referring to San Beda rector-president and league policy board member Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB.

“Yes we will appeal but we haven’t finalized it,” San Sebastian’s athletic director and board representative Frank Gusi also told The STAR.

Lim described the verdict as absurd.

“The decision is malicious and ridiculous, I think they are showing San Beda College the door,” Lim told The STAR.

The STAR tried to call up Gorayeb but failed to get through at press time.

San Beda’s Nigerian center Olaide Adeogun, set to play next season after years of residency, and Julius Armon were also banned from entering any NCAA venue next year for their involvement in the fracas.

“Mr. Olaide Adeogun and Mr. Julius Armon are banned from entering any NCAA venue for the rest of Season 87 and all of Season 88, as supporters under Section 4.4.3.9 of the Constitution. They cannot yet be considered as NCAA players because they have not yet submitted themselves to the NCAA eligibility process,” said the league in a statement.

San Beda’s Kyle Pascual, Jake Pascual, Jaypee Mendoza, Rysie Koga, Rome dela Rosa, Jose Carmelo Lim, Sudan Daniel, Mar Villahermosa, Baser Amer and Antonio Caram were also slapped one-game suspension each for entering the court during the fight.

San Beda’s Dave Marcelo was given the stiffest punishment, a suspension totalling eight games – three “for instigating a fight/brawl,” another three games for participating in the fight and two more for forcibly entering the court and disrupting play. 

Garvo Lanete was also suspended for one game for also entering the court.

The sanctions on Marcelo and Lanete, however, might just be changed to fines since both had played their fifth and last season and will no longer see action in the upcoming season.

Ed Cordero, a member of Lim’s coaching staff, will be suspended for one game for forcibly entering the game and another one for disrupting the ongoing volleyball match during the incident.